Resilient wheel



f I. L. @ARI/ER.

RESILIENI WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED IIIAY 26, I9I9.

15,4 1 0,1 '77 Patented Mar. 21, 1922'.

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@2M @j f J. L. GARVER.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 19l9.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"i /f ww) Snowman J. L. GARVER..

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26,1919.

1,410,177. Patented 1111.211922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET k3.

wheel illustrating the means of preventing clashing of the parts in returning tocon- Vcentric position.

Fig.r9 is a similar view of similar parts on the left-hand side ofthe wheel.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a `tire of any suitable kind, preferably solid rubber7 2'is a channel ring` within which the rubber tre Ais built,' which'ring is providedon its inner periphery with a` seriesof integrally arranged ears 3 each having an aperture 4.

y Bolted to these ears; by bolts 4 are outer and innerflange members 5 a`nd6, the flange being usecuredlto the front sideof `the ears and flanges 6to the rear side thereof.; the

flanges 5 rand6 formingin effect a part of the outer wheel rim;y Each of these flanges is" provided with a3 series ofequally spaced inwardly extending projectionsL 5a and '6% the projections of the respective lflanges b eing-in oppositely arranggged:pairs.1V .Formed onlone side of each of these flanges is a bearing, anden the opposite side `of each flange projectonis asimilar bearing 8. Five of these projections are provided on each flange in the present case.

,flange 5 and its bearing-projection` 5a is an exterior ring 11 andan interior ring 12.

The inner periphery of theexterior ring 11 is provided Iwith' a s eriesfof equallyespjaced ears 11a, fivein numbervn the present case,

.each of rwhich has a rearwardly projecting.

pin 13 upon which is rotatably mounted an anti-friction roller 9. Thev outerv periphery ofthe interior ring 12 also has a series' of f equally'spaced ears 12a, five in number each of which i has a similarl rearwardly proj ecting pin 12b upon which is rotatably mounted an antifrictioni roller 10, `the arrangement being such'that the respective rolls 9 and l() are arranged on a common circumferential line,v which line also passes through the center `ofthebearing.7 and 8. i Locatedbetween the flanges 5 and 6 is a front coupling ring 18 and a'. rear coupling v ring 14. The rear coupling ring `14.is pro-l vided witha seriesof ten slots 14a at one end of ,each of which isv a bearing face,V these bearing faces being designated alternately as=15f and 16,41 AThe bearingsl are arranged so as to bel opposed tothe rimibearings '7, withthe anti-friction Vrollers 9 intervening., The front coupling ring 18 -is likewise provided witlra series of ten'slots 18h, at Tone end of which is a bearing face, the bearing j. faces being designated alternately as=19 and 20. The bearings 19 arejopposed to.' the bear-V ings 8 on the rim projections, with the antifriction rollers 10 intervening.

, The rear coupling ring 14 is provided with a series of ears 14a on itslnner periph.-

ery, carrying pins 22, while Athe coupling r1ng1'18 is provided witha series offsimilar ears 18a carryingwsimilar p1ns`22a7 which 'Arranged onthe forward side of the front,

pins 22 and 22EL act as rests or supports for the respective ends of a resilient element, in the present case shown as a torsion spring 23. The ,springs 23 tend to impell the coupling rings 14 and 18 in opposite circumferential directions into engagement with the rim bearing 7 and 18 respectively through the medium of the interposed anti- 'friction rolls 9 and 10.

Arranged onA therear side of the inner rim flange and its projections 6a 1s an 1nterior ring 25 Vand exter1orr1ng 27nconstructed in all respects like the outer rings 11 and 12.

, Theinner periphery of the exterior ringl 2 7 Y is` `provided with Va seriesof equally spaced ears 27,V five `in number, each of which has a forwardly projecting pin 27.b which has rotatably mounted `thereon an anti-friction rollerV 26. lThe outer periph- 4eriy of thel interiorring 25 has a series of live ears 25, each ear carrying a forwardly extending `pin 25b uponwhich isV rotatably mounted an anti-friction roller 24; `the rollersj24 co-operating with therbearing 16 ofthe coupling ring 14 vand the rollers 26 co-operating with the bearings 2O of the coupling ring 18.

A central wheel member 28 has peripheral flanges 28a and 28b having a series of circular cut away portions 28c to afford clearance for the springs 23; the wheel member being provided with a lcentral bore 28d to receive a standard hub (not shown).

VEach flange 28a and'28b hasa series of projectionsy 28 arranged opposite each other. Each projection being provided with two bearing faces 29 and 80, facing in opposite directions.V The faces 29 on both flanges engage the rollers 24 of the inner interior ring 25, while the .bearings 30 on said flanges engage the rollers 26 of the inner exterior ring 27.V .The bearings 29 and 30 of this inner wheel member are"preferably positioned inthe same plane of the wheel and also in thesaine circumference as are the bearings 7 and 8 of the outerrim member.

`Each of the anti-friction rollers 9 and 10, i

is provided with a series of three peripheralflanges 9a and v10a (see Fig. 4 for detail). The 'bearing projections' 5a and 6a ofthe outer rim` member and the bearing projections 28 oftheinner rim member embrac- `ing the two ,outerflanges while the bearing portions .of the vrespective coupling rings 14 and .18 extend into the spaces between the respectiveroller flanges. This arrangement -maintains all the parts in their proper vertimember' by .any suitableuneans which will permit it tomove laterally relatively to said central vmember; the i plate. 38 being pro-y vided'v witlrafbore 34: slidably fitted about an outturned 'flange 351'011 a plate 35 which is secured-to the inner wheelmember. The plate -lhas-studs 36 which project through apertures in the'flange 28? with nuts 36" on their inner endsand springs 39a interposed between the nuts and the `flange 28. Therefore, if" the outerand inner wheel members shouldvbe forced slightly out of vertical alignment, there is no undue strain on the light` enclosingplate nor does an opening occur between the platesfor the admission of dirt. Thefront of the wheel is enclosed Vby a covering 37v of any suitable shapey to permit it to clear the axle or hub end.

l the rear coupling-'ring 14, whose bearing facesilandl are facing upwardly at the right of thewheel center, is forced ldownward-ly by the bearing faces 29 on the-innerv wheel rmember, racting upon the bearing faces 16, through the medium of the rollers 24, and the vbearingl faces 15 of said coupling ring` move away from' theirv corresponding` co-operating bearing faces 7 lon the outer wheel member. At the'left of the wheel center, the bearing faces 15 and 16 on the coupling ring 1li face downwardly and are thus upheld by the bearing faces 7 on the outer rim member by bearing 15. Thus coupling ring 14 `is caused to rotate or swing slightly aboutv its center of supporty at the left. The coupling ring'18, whose bearing faces 19 vand 20 are facing upwardly at the left/of thecenter of the wheel, is borne downwardly by the bearing faces 30 of the innerwheel member acting upon the bearing-faces 20 through the rollers 26. The bearing faces 19 andQ() of the coupling ring 18, facing downwardly at the right of the center of the wheel, are in like manner upheldby the bearing` faces S of the outer wheel member andl thus by a like action this ring 18 is caused to rotate or swingbut in a. direction opposite tothe rotation of the ring` 14;. This rotation of the rings 11 and 1S iniopposite directions relative to each other results in compressing` all of the resilient elements 23. A

In the earlier movement. of thev inner wheel member from concentric posit-ion, the engagement 'of co-operating bearing points is at or near opposite horizontal points with respect to the 'wheel center, but in the latter' movement, the points of engagement move upwardlyand downwardly until atv the final limit of movement the bearing points are at or near the vertical center line of the wheel. as shown in Fig. T, in which it will be seen that the bearing faces/T and 8 of one -ofI the of the said inner `wheel members.

rim projections 5n are `sustaining the couplingfrings lflfand 18 through the medium oflthe anti-friction yrollers 9 and 10, the bearing faces-16 and 20 on the coupling ringsll and 18in turnsustaining thel inner wheelmemberthrough the medium of the anti-frictionV lrollersA Qiand 26, which are in contact with the bearingfaces 29 and 30 This is clearly shown in Fig. ,7' with respect to the bearings 16 and 29 'the bearing 2O which supports the bearing` 30, however, being not n shown in'this figure as -itis located on the opposite side of the central verticalline of the wheel. It will be observed that the bear ings 8 and 19 on a substantially horizontal line through the center -ofy the wheel which were in engagement' at the beginning of the movement are now open or out of engagement in this Fig. 7. 'At this' point, it will be seen' that the rollers such `as 9, 10 and 24 have moved to the vertices of the minor axes of the elliptical-shaped,bearinglfaces. By reason of the ellipticalf form of the bearing faces, the rollers9 and 10 at the bottomk of the wheel have been forced to-move circumferentially of the wheel by the bearing faces 7A and 8 a greater distance than would have resulted iff'the bearingfaces werel formedV on a true circle; theA extent ofthis added movement beingfrepresented by the eccentricity of the ellipses forming the bearing face. #In like manner the coupling rings are required to move circumferentially to a greaterextent relative to the rollers 9 and 10 by the bearing faces 15 and 19 as shown in .F ig. 7 by the position of the bearing 19 and roller `10. Thus t-he bearing faces lqand Vand consequentlyIthe coupling rings 14 and 18, have been'required to move relatively to each other a distance greater by four times Athe distance represented by the eccentricity of each bearing face.y Thelbeginning of this accelerated movement by the coupling rings is 'dependent upon the length of the radius of the circlesforming thevertex of the major axis of the bearing face of each `bearing and also ofthe length of its are. If the radius and arc were short, makingithe `vertex narrow, then theacccelera- 'tion would begin earlier, `and if long, makingra-wi-de vertex the beginning would be later. Y Thus, by a modification of the contour of the bearings, different results in spring action: be obtained.

To prevent clashing ofthe parts in returning" to-nermal position after a 'displacement thereof by shock, means are provided forl causing the anti-friction rollers to first make Contact with their respective bearings at points to one side of the vertex of the major axis of each'elliptical-shaped bearing so that the rollers will rollalongl the arc of the bearfl ing toward the major axis apex instead of coming directly intor contactwith the bear? ing at that apex, which would result in a clash.` :To this end means ,are provided for permitting Ythe rollers, under load or shock, to assume a position out of line with themajor axis apex, or, in other words, a position between the apexes of the minor and major axes of the bearing, as follows: It will be understood that in the normal concentric po sition of the parts, all of the anti-friction rollers occupy a substantially central position in their respective1bearings, or posi-` tions at the exact vertices of the major axes of the elliptical bearings, in which position the resistance of the springs is greater than the load. So soon as the load is increased relativev to the spring resistance, each of the load bearing rollers has a tendency to be rolled on the bearing faces by the pressure ofthe inner wheel bearing thereon andby reason of recesses or depressions a, b, c and d formed in` the Arespective bearing faces, a rolling movement of the roller actually takes place causing the rollers to move sidewise of the wheel, carrying the coupling rings with them to a side-wise position, thus bringing the rolls'out of line with their nore mal seatsV on each bearing to the same degree so that when the parts approach their nor-V malv concentric positions again, the weight bearing rollers, will ride up the incline of the recesses, while those rollers which have not been in weight bearing position, will contact with their opposed bearing arcs at points higher Vthan the normal concentric points of Contact and then move down those arcs with a rolling action.

In the `coupling ring 1S, the depressions are represented by a, thel depressions in the bearing 20 being on the outer side of the vertex on the major axis, and the depressions in the bearing 19 being on the inside of the said vertex, so that they alternate. In the Vcoupling ring 14, the depressions are-repre-V sented by, the depressions in the bearing 15 being on the outside and those in the bear-f ings 16 on the inside. In the outer'rim mem loer, the depressions are representedby c, the

depressions in the bearing 7 being on the inside of the vertex and those in the bearing 8 on the outside thereof. In the inner wheel member the depressions are represented byV d, the depressions ,in the bearing 29 being on the outer side of the major axis vertex and .the ones in the bearing 30 on-theinside thereof. This results in the depressions of y any two opposing bearings Abeing arranged on opposite sides of the vertices of the major axes of-said bearings, and also results in the weight carrying bearings of both the inf ner and'outer members on both sides of the wheels being depressed in the same direction` from, the vertices of the major axis thereof, inA this case to the right thereof, as

shown at bearings 7 and 30 in Fig. 9 and at bearings8 and 29 in Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, we will suppose a shock which moves the bearings 29.

ontheI right and 30 on the left vertically downwardon their respective rollers 24 and 26. In this movement, bearing 30 onpthe right opens from its co-operating bearing 2O and bearing 29 on the left opens from its co-operating bearing 16. This permits the Y rollers 24 on the right and26 on the left to roll to the right into the depressions el of bearing 29 on the right and depression Z of bearing 30 on kthe left. ,It is apparent that the rollers in moving to the right carry the rings 14 and18, with them tothe right their bearings (16 on the right and 20` on `the left) seeking the depressionsV a on the left` and thus shifting these rings to one side of their normal-positions or to one side of the` vertical direction. ,i i

This movement is further Aencouraged on the leftwheel side by alike co-operation of the outer wheel bearing r(and-the coupling y ring bearing 15, roller 9 intervening, the roller 9 seeking depression c offbearingl? and the depression l) ofbearing 15 on the left, and on theright by bearings 8 ofthe outer Wheel and the coupling ring bearing 19, roller 10 intervening, seeking the depres-` sions c of bearing 8 and a of bearing 19 `the bearing 19 on the left opening from bearing 8 and the bearing 15I on the right open ing from bearing 7.

It isapparent then, thaton return, as the wheelparts approach concentric position the openloearingsI 8 andV 19 on the left and bear` ings 7 and 15 on the right approach each other in this eccentricfrelation, so that Vthe rolls 10 and 9 respectively willcontact theV ber. These rings are again shifted to con centricposition as the spring force causes the rollers which intervene the bearing which have been open in their relations, .to roll downwardly of theA respective bearingsapproaching the concentricposition by rolling instead of by direct contact, and beingre- Y tarded inthisA movement by the time element of shifting the rings again into their normal concentric position and also retarded by the tendency of the weight 0f load to retain the rings in their eccentric position.

By the construction described, it will `be seen that if the weight is greater on one `side of the `center of the wheel than on the other,

sucht as that caused lby driving stress, then theacoupling ringA bearing the vload onthat side of the vertical Wheel center-will move downwardly against the resilient elements to a greater extent than the other coupling ring, vproportionately `to the greater Weight, thus cushioning the fdrive.

It will also be vseen that I have provided la Wheel wherein the rotatableparts'included 'intheiesilient devices bear the load: at points near the 4circumference thereof and which therefore respondlm'ore readily to'lthe iine environments xvillpermit.:

pulseof shock. in starting them `in rotation, and whereby' the degree of theiirotation relative to the movement'of the'aXle is rcdueedidue to the fact that tliefulcrum .for each of the rotatable parts-the: coupling rings-r-is locatedat a point aswvidelyseparated-:from `the Weight or load thereonas vmore: :rapidly `due to the accelerated .moven ment fof the Y .rotatingparts Vwhich. the :springs intervene caused bythe peculiarfforin of the bearingffaces as'explained. i

Further, by the peculiar formation :of the bearing. faces, it'vvi'll be seen that clashing of the-partsvin arriving at normal position is eliminated; and that byi the yemployment of the'intervening anti-friction rollers 'between thebearin'g faces, friction is reduced :to: the minimum:k 1

the construction of that part 'of the-casing-enclosing: the rear of the :Wheel structure,.

lateral Vstrains upon 1tlie structure are preventedifrom:v being'transmittedy thereto.

It will further be noted that-by the rangement f of couplingrings vand i movable intervening Aai-iti-frictionrollers for the bean ings, the 'vvidth.V of the -'bearing.V faces "may be materially reduced,"v resulting infless opening of 1 adj acentA bearing facesgth'us causingv a morefeveinor -smoother Vaction of theparts when VtheA `Wheelfis rollingY ivitlittheV parts .f in

eccentric position:` and permitting the use i ofv aiflesser inumber of Alike .bearings :inf a given circumference..

Having f thus describedf my inventiomi4 I clainiz-i-n 'I 1. .Inca resilient p hiibem'ember, resilientr devices to yiel'dingly hol-d said members in normal relative posi- Wheel, a Y rim"` member; ak

tion comprising coupling ringsintervening said membersr4 and resilientelements to oppose the rotation/of said coupling rings in oppositedirections, said coupling 'rings having radial 'movement in relation to both of saidmembers. 1

2. Ina resilient'ivheel, arim member Ipro- Vvided with a `plurality ofbearings, some' of vivhichbearings face inone circumferential Vdirectionfand the balance ofthe bearings in the other s circumferential direction; a-hub member alsof provided with afpluralityof Vbearingssome of ivhichlilrewvis'e face vinfone circumferential direction and the others in thezopposite .circumferential direction,` a rotatable member f p'iovidedfi-With bearings facing'invone circumferential direction which coeoperate with certainof said bearings on said rim and hub members, another rotatable member provided With aplurality of bearings facing 'in the opposite @circumferential direction tofthoseof the 'iirst mentioned ro'- tatable memberivhich"coeoperate with other bearings ion'.j saidrimi and ihu'bimembers, and resilient means 'tending to maintain saidfico# operating bearings .in engagement.

3 In ai `resilient Wheel, a rim'` member; a hub member, resilient devices to' yieldingly holdsaidfniembers in normal relative position comprisingrotatable coupling `rings intervening.said` members and resilient elements to oppose the rotationixofsaidfirings inwopp'osite directions,` and' `anti-friction 1devi'oes arranged lbeti'v-e'en/ said` rings y and `one orf'both offsaidy memberss i Y y txln a resilient VWlieel,a`frim member; a hub member,` resilient J devices '1 to normally position said member in substanti alllyl f con.-

ycentric position, said resilient fdevi'ces including bearingsv Which cooperate withl said .rim and flnib members, anti-'frictionfmembersl intervening: said bearings, .and means-.independent of saidwbearings for maintaining a plurality of anti-frictionV `members inf fixed vspaced relation? with each ioth'er.7

i 5. In a' 're'silientfwheeh a= rim/member,4 a hub member,1 resilient devices to normally -`position said member Jinsubstantially concentric relation, said resilient devicefincluding bearings 'which lcooperate:with .like bean ings'onsaida-rim or-hub member by circumferential engagement.y anti'frietion members intervening said' cooperating bearings,

' and'finte'lrengagingVA parte between said fanti.'-

frict'ona'member f and jlbearngsytof Lmaintain themfin 'their normal vertical positions:v 6:'In ai resilient Wheel, va riml member; a

fliub? ineinber,"l each ofsa'id 1 members f having ai' plurality iof bearings lefacing'Y circumferentially of said Wheeli andresilientmembers tol yield-ingly support Ssai'di hubfmember, said resilientfmember also including bearin sl lfor engagement Wit-hi the'.` bearings ofsai f hub,

and rimmembers,s.thei` contunot .the beanings of. one or more of said-members beingV semi-elliptical, the major axis thereof lying circiimferentially of said Wheel.

.bers in operative engagement with said rim and hub members, said resilient devices impelling said rotatable members in opposite circumferential' directions and maintaining vthem'normally on a common center but permittingthem to become eccentric `when a `greater weight is imposed on one wheel side than the other.

8. In a resilient wheel, a hub member, a

rim member, oppositelyrotatable parts bep tween said members, resilient elements betweenV said parts, and means acting -iinder load or shock to accelerate said rotatable parts against said resilient` elements at a less speed atthe beginning of the relative ymovement of said hiib and rim members than at a later movement thereof.

l9. In a resilient'wheel, a hub; member, a -rimmembeig` rotatable parts between said members, resilient elements betweenL said parts, and means acting underiload or shock to accelerate said rotatable parts against said resilient elements at a greater speed (hiring the later relative movement ofthe hub and rim members than at their preceding movement. i

10. In a resilient wheel, a hiib member, a riin member, and resilient devices interposed between said members including bearing faces, said bearing faces being so formed as to act under load or shock to shift theresilient devices to one side of their otherwise normal positions during the initial departure of the axle from wheel center.

11. In a resilient Wheel, a hub member, a

rim'memben resilient devices for connecting said hub and rim members comprising rotatable members which are impelled in opposite circumferential directions by resilientmeans, a plurality of bearings carried by one or more ofsaid members, said bearings being substantially semi-elliptical in contour, theV major `axis thereof extend- ,being provided with bearings facingfii'ri both circumferential direction, resilient Idevices to yieldingly maintainsaid'members in their normal` relative positions, saidy devices coni` `prising rotatable parts whichr are impelled in` opposite-circumferential directions .by 4resilient means and are provided with bearings; to co-operate with the bearings ofl at least one of. said: members, anti-friction members between cooperating bearings, 'and the contour of at least a part of said bear- Qings' being. such4 as toycause; saidV anti-fric-v tion members to be shifted to right orfleft of their normal position on said-bearing faces under load or shock.

13.. In a resilient wheel, a liiib member, a

rim member and resilient devices interposed between said members to `yieldiiigly main-v tain therein their normal relative positions, said devices and one or both., of said members being connected by a bearing of elliptical contour, a roller positioned normally J at the apex of the major axis of said elliptical bearing, the construction and arrange;- `ment being such as'to ,cause said roller, to

and one end of the other lever fulcriiming onthe other side of said rim member, said hub memberbeing supported by said levers at opposite sidesof the wheel center, and

lresilient means to support the yieldable ends `of said levers. Y l

15. In a resilient wheel, a rimmember, a

.bearingfixed in relation tlieieto for engagement circiimferentially of said wheel, a central member also provided with a bearing for engagement .circiimfeientially of .said1 wheel, resilient means lto yieldingly maintain said members in their normal relative positions, said means including a rotatable part provided with a bearing for co-operation with ythe bearing of said rim member andanother bearing Vfor co-operation with Athe bearing ofsaid central member, and a.

resilient element to tend to maintain said bearings in engagement.

16. In a resilient wheel, a` tire ring, bearings fixed in relation thereto for engagement circumferentially of said wheel, a hiib vmemberprovided 'withbearings also for en'-` gagement circiimferentially of said Wheel,

resilient means including oppositely rota Y table :parts which are provided with `bearings for co-operation with each .of the `beariiigsof said niembers,-and a resilientelement to tend tormaintain saidhearings in engagement. i Y

'17. In a resilient Wheel,- a rim member, a liiib member, and resilient devices with alternate bearings for" engaging with IVsaid members, the arrangement and constriictioii being siich that the relative radialdmovement of said members is divided between the points of alternate :engagement offsaid devices with said members. V Y' 1 18; In a resilient wheel,- an outer :wheel membeig an inner hiib member, said members being relatively movabl'eVa casingA part concentric with said hub member andhavingk a resilient laterally slidable connection therewith, saidxcasing part voverlapping fthe sides of said Wheel member and yieldably held thereto, and additional means for causing said members to rotate uniformly.

19. In a resilient Wheel, a rim member, a hub member, said members being` relatively movable, and overlapping` enclosing parts, one oi said parts being fixed to the rim memberl and the other ot' said parts being resiliently and slidably connected to the hub member so as to yield with the other part under relatively lateral movement of said members, and additional means for causing said members to rotate uniformly.

20. 1n a resilient Wheel, a hub member, a rim member, devices for yieldingly supporting said hub member which include oppositely rotatable coupling rings which have relative movement with said hub and rim members both radially and circumferentially by engagement through a bearing Whose contour is elliptical,r and resilient elements operatively associated with said oppositely rotatable parts.

2l. lnl a resilient wheel, a rim member, a hub member, resilient devices to yieldingly hold said members in normal relative position comprising rotatable coupling rings intervening said. members and resilient elements to oppose the rotation of said rings in opposite directions, anti-friction devires arranged between said rings and one or both of said members, and means independent of said bearings for maintaining a plurality of anti-friction members in fixed spaced relation with each other.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of May, 1919.

JAMES L. GARVER. l/Vitness:

CHAs. I. WELCH. 

